- With Mayo Clinic internist and director of the Nicotine Dependence Center
Richard D. Hurt, M.D.
Staying healthy (12)
- Will an air purifier eliminate cigarette smoke?
- Cellphones and cancer: What's the risk?
- Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting?
- see all in Staying healthy
Dental care (7)
- When to brush your teeth
- Dental floss vs. water pick: Which is better?
- Sensitive teeth: What treatments are available?
- see all in Dental care
Skin care (9)
- Hydrated skin: Does drinking water help?
- Foods for healthy skin: Top picks
- Shaving hair: Does shaved hair grow back thicker?
- see all in Skin care
Nail care (4)
- Split fingernails: Can they be prevented?
- Acrylic nails: Can they harm natural nails?
- Nail biting: Does it cause long-term damage?
- see all in Nail care
Eye care (2)
- Eye exam: Is a laser retina scan worthwhile?
- Choosing sunglasses: Is UV protection important?
Sleep (7)
- How many hours of sleep are enough?
- Sleep and weight gain: What's the connection?
- Melatonin side effects: What are the risks?
- see all in Sleep
Mental health (2)
- Stop multitasking and learn how to focus
- Passive-aggressive behavior: What are the red flags?
Healthy at work (4)
- Shift work: Improving daytime sleep
- Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting?
- Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting: A concern?
- see all in Healthy at work
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Question
Will an air purifier eliminate cigarette smoke?
I'm thinking about buying an air purifier. Do any of them work on cigarette smoke?
Answer
from Richard D. Hurt, M.D.
If you're considering buying an air purifier, you have a multitude of choices. But if you want an air purifier that will eliminate cigarette smoke, you're out of luck. Most air purifiers, also called air cleaners, are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants, which are a major component of cigarette smoke.
Mechanical air filters, such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and electronic air cleaners, such as ionizers, target particles, but tobacco smoke particles are designed to be small enough to be inhaled into the outer reaches of the lungs and, thus, are not trapped by such devices.
Other air cleaners generate ozone, which is actually a lung irritant. At levels that don't exceed public health standards, ozone has little ability to remove air contaminants such as cigarette smoke.
The best way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to not allow smoking in your home. If you smoke, this is another good reason to stop.
Next questionCellphones and cancer: What's the risk?
- Residential air cleaners. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html. Accessed Sept. 28, 2012.
- A randomized trial of air cleaners and a health coach to improve indoor air quality for inner-city children with asthma and secondhand smoke exposure. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. 2011;165:741.
- Hurt RD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 28, 2012.
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